toilet woos

yummymummy79

We had similar problems for a couple of years with DS. He sometimes wouldn't go for a week or 2, doctors didn't really suggest anything apart from lactulose / movicol which we took now and again although not regularly. It was causing messy pants which he was more upset about than the not pooing. I tried a few other things; blowing bubbles at the start on the loo, sticker charts etc. Our main problem was that he was stopping it himself, you could see him squeezing it in and he couldn't get the idea of the longer in between poos, the bigger and more painful it would be.

Over the last couple of weeks we have had a breakthrough; bribery! I agreed to buy him a pack of Moshi Monsters cards for every poo he did, however small. He has now done one most nights and is happy to go and try himself rather than me having to badger him constantly. It's costing me quite a lot but definitely worth it.

Obv that will only work in some situations where it is actually their controlling the issue that is the problem, but it definitely worked for us.

meeps

My son was on Movicol from 3 until this easter when he was 7, we dropped the dose by 5mls every couple of weeks, which was quite a flaff with a measuring cup and syringe lol! He has his regular time on the loo after his bath before bed, but now sometimes goes when he feels like he needs to, which is a big change. We have to keep an eye on making sure he has 3/4 glasses of squash as well as his water, and what seems best for him is a smoothie, grapes, a fruit bar, or a fig roll as part of his 5 a day.
He has been signed off from 'poo clinic' at the hospital, and every time I was reassured that he could be on Movicol for as long as he needed it, and other kids were on a lot more for a lot longer. They said it is inert as it passes through the body without being absorbed, so is very safe. The issues with long term use are related to dependancy which is where routine and diet come in.

hitatotatus

Another one here with the importance of drinking water - more than you might think. Also, if you can get her to drink it, soak some dried fruit for as long as possible (at least and hour) and get her to drink the liquid.
Also, a nice tummy massage after a warm bath with some oil, rubbing clockwise, can sometimes help get things moving.

I know it can take ages for anything to work, but once my son started drinking more his problems were over. Meantime, the hours he used to spend on the toilet resulted in him being a brilliant reader!!:rotfl:

Yorkie1234

My son has problems with constipation and I've started giving him a spoonful of Syrup of figs every night and it's made a big difference. Doesn't taste too great though so have a drink ready for him to wash away the taste.

It was recommended by my SIL as my neice suffered badly from constipation.

jackieb

VfM4meplse wrote: »

It's not, it's a short-term remedy to get things moving again whilst trying other methods.

My daughter has encoprisis and i've been told by a few doctors that Movicol is perfectly safe to take long term as it only adds water to the stools. Unlike something like senna which makes the bowel contract to push the poo out. Movicol is the safest thing to take long term and the bowel doesn't become reliant on it. Her last hospital appointment was only a few weeks ago and yet a different doctor confirmed this.

jackieb

raven83 wrote: »

Hi just thought thought i would post on here to see if anyone else has a child that suffers from impaction? My DD2 has suffered with it since about the age of 3 and has been on movical sahets (she is 7 now) since. Just wondering really if anyone else has a child go through it and ways of dealing with it and when does it start to get better? I know it is quite a hush hush subject and probably more people suffer with it than you would realise.

Has your specialist suggested having a clearout? When my daughter was younger she had to up her Movicol (under doctor's supervision and advice only!) We had to gradually increase her dose every day until she was taking 12 sachets a day (yes, 12!) and had to keep taking 12 until she was all cleared out. Then cut down by 2 sachets a day. It does work. It's very messy. It's smelly (like poo that's been in there for weeks or months - worse than a normal smell - sorry ) It's not nice for the child either. You can't go out for the best part of a week or longer. But when it's all out it's great. The difference I saw in my daughter was staggering.

Unfortunately, the first time she had a clearout I wasn't told I had to keep giving her the Movicol. I assumed as she was clear it was okay to stop - not so. I found out later that Movicol needs to kept being taken. For example, my daughter's colon was stretched due to the constipation and I was told that if she'd been constipated for 5 years, it would take another 5 years for her colon to shrink back into shape again - but it would shrink back eventually.

Don't do this on your own though - only under medical advice. It's hard (no pun intended!) on both you and your daughter. There's constipation and then there's extreme constipation - believe me, we've tried everything, and Movicol has worked the best for my daughter. When she was younger she used to go for months without a proper poo, she'd just leak. The diarrhoea would pass over the solid poo in the bowel.

Sorry for such a long and explicit post. I just thought i'd post an explanation. I didn't push enough for my daughter with the doctors when she was younger. I wish I had. She's now 15 and still not right (but getting better). I wouldn't wish this on anybody.

How much sachets does your daughter have every day?

Bumpmakesfour

My DD1 has been taking movicol since she was about 2(she's 7 now) and is under the care of a bowel clinic.Nothing has been mentioned about there being any ill effects taking it long term by any paed or specialist xx

doodoot

Oh I am soooo glad that this thread is here.

My 10 year old has suffered with encopresis since being a toddler, and we have tried so many different methods to help him - he has anxiety disorder and using the toilet is one of his issues.

He is due to start some bowel management next month and there was talk about giving him a clear-out...his keeping the poo in has caused the nerve endings to get numb, hence lots of soiling due to not being able to feel the urge to go.

I've not spoken to the Paediatrician yet - the clear-out was mentioned by another specialist - so I really don't know what to expect.

I take it the clear-out is caused by medication and involves lots of sitting on the toilet?

meeps

my son started the movicol after a 'clear out' at the children's clinic at hospital when he was 3, involved a mild sedative and then a special enema, not much fun but didn't take long, and was very effective.

raven83

meeps wrote: »

my son started the movicol after a 'clear out' at the children's clinic at hospital when he was 3, involved a mild sedative and then a special enema, not much fun but didn't take long, and was very effective.

idid inquire about that but doctor said they dont like to do them :mad: